Key container



April 14, 1953 J. s. NICHOLSON KEY CONTAINER 1710-6 tor (7540i Jfialf/M/l [M05011 Filed Jan. 9, 1951 Patented Apr. 14, l953 KEY CONTAINER Joseph Shannon Nicholson, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application January 9, 1951, Serial No. 205,048

7 Claims.

Introduction The present invention relates to containers for keys and more particularly to containers of this nature wherein means are provided for selectively extending one of a plurality of keys which are retained within the container.

At the present time, when it is necessary to carry about a plurality of keys, it is common practice to place them on a ring or in a casing so that they are kept together. Keys so retained are bulky and furthermore do not permit ready identification of any individual key. When it is necessary to select one particular key in an unlighted or dimly lit location, the user generally has to try several keys before he arrives at the one desired.

The present invention recognizes these difiiculties and it aims to provide a satisfactory solution to them by furnishing an improved key holder which is designed so as to be compact and ornate in appearance and which includes means whereby any selected one of a plurality of keys carried within the container can be easily and quickly identified and extended into an operating position.

Accordingly, the invention is a key holder which includes in combination with an open faced casing adapted to house the keys, a plurality of keys having special ends mounted on a key supporting tubular sleeve extending across the upper end of the casing. Means are provided including a key selecting shaft mounted for restricted rotary movement within the tubular sleeve, whereby any selected one of the keys can be swung outwardly from the casing into an operative position by rotation of the key selecting shaft.

More specifically, a preferred construction of a key holder in accordance with the invention comprises an open faced casing having a back wall and side walls extending outwardly from the back wall to form a substantially rectangular enclosure adapted to house the keys. The side walls of the casing include end portions, preferably rounded, which extend upwardly from the upper portion of the casing considerably beyond the back wall. The extended side wall end portions include centrally disposed openings and a tubular sleeve having an outwardly extending integral key is slidably mounted in these openings so as to be capable of movement in an axial direction across the upper portion of the casing.

A plurality of keys are mounted on the tubular form with the end portions of the side walls of the casing. Each of the key blanks includes a central opening adapted to accommodate the tubular sleeve and a key-way is provided extending from the bottom of the opening to receive the key extending from the tubular sleeve. With this arrangement, the keys, when mounted on the sleeve, are normally retained against rotational movement by the sleeve-key so that they are locked into position within the confines of the casing.

The tubular sleeve and integral key includes a centrally disposed cut-out portion of sufficient size to allow for a restricted rotary movement of any selected one of the keys. A key selecting shaft is mounted within the tubular sleeve which includes an outwardly extending tooth which fits into the cut-out portion of the sleeve so that the shaft can be rotated within the sleeve to the extent of the cut-out portion. Preferably, the tubular sleeve is made from sheet material which is formed so as to provide a split cylinder having an outwardly extending longitudinal flange along the length of the cylinder so as to constitute the locking key. This split cylinder is preferably made of sufficiently resilient material so that it can be snapped over the key selecting shaft.

Detailed description Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in perspective elevation of a key holder constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the construction shown in Figure 1 along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 with the selector shaft shown in alignment with a locking key.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding in location to Figure 3 with the selector shaft in operating alignment with one of the standard keys.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the construction shown in Figure 1 to illustrate the position of the keys, tubular sleeve, and selector shaft relative to the casing.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the construction shown in Figure 4 along the line E6 to illustrate in more detail the relative position of the key engaging tooth of the selector shaft, and the cut-out portion of the tubular sleeve.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the construction shown in Figure 3 along the line 1-'! to illustrate in more detail the relative position of the locking key, the selector shaft tooth and tubular sleeve.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view, in perspective elevation of the upper end of one of the standard keys.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic exploded view in perspective elevation of the construction shown in Figure l to illustrate in more 'det'ailthe' main component parts of a key holder constructed'in accordance with the invention.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detailed view of the upper end of the locking key to show the-ra-- dially enlarged key-way in more detail. I n

With particular reference to Figures 1 and- 9 of the drawings, a preferred construction of a key holder in accordance with the present invention comprises an open faced casing l0 having a back well l2 and side walls I4 extending outwardly from the back wall 12 to form a substantially rectangular enclosure adapted to house the keys.- The side walls 14 include end portions l6 which extend considerably above the back wall I2 at each side: The side-wall end portions 16 are preferably rounded in outline and" each includes a substantially centrally disposed opening 20 adapted to receive a tubular'sleeve 22. Preferably, the tubular sleeve is made from sheet material which is formed so as toprovide' the split cylinder or sleeve 22 and an outwardly extending longitudinal flange along the length A plurality of keys'30 are mounted'on' th e tubular sleeve 22, each of these keys being out from special blanks whichhave the upperend shaped to form' with theend portions IG of: the side walls of the casing-and eachof whichincludes a central opening including a key-- way 21 adapted to accommodate the *tub'ulan sleeve 22 and the-key 24-extending from the tubular sleeve. 0 The tubular sleeve 22 includes a centrally disposed cut-out portion 32 of sufficient width to' allow for restricted rotary movement of any se-' lected one of the keys. The key selecting shaft 34 is mounted within the tubular sleeve 22 where it is retained in position by means of an outstanding knurled head 36 at one end and an.

outstanding hemispherical cap '33 on the other end, the tubular sleeve '22 fittingly snugly between these two end members. The key selecting shaft 34 includes an'outwardly extending tooth 33 which loosely fits into the cut-out portion 32 of the sleeve 22 so that the shaft 34'can be rotated within the sleeve to the extent of the cut-out portion only.. With this arrange ment, the shaft 34 and tubular -sleeve'22 are capable of sliding axial movement together, relative to the keys and the casing ii). The tubular sleeve 22 cannot'be rotated relative to the casing, and the selecting shaft 34 can be rotated within the tubular sleeve 22 only to the extent of the central cut-out -portion 32 of the-tubular--- sleeve 22. r V

The outwardly extending tooth 38 of the se lector shaft 34 is of n size-adapted to; fit-into the key-way 21 provided in -each 'ofthe keys/30 supported on the tubular sleeve 22 so that when it is desired to extend any selected one of the keys 30 from the casing 10, the tubular sleeve 22 is moved axially relative to the keys until the tooth 38 of the shaft 34 and the cut-out portion 32 of the tubular sleeve 22 are in alignment with the key-way of the selected key. In this condition, rotation of the shaft 34 by means of the knurled head 36 swings' the' selectedkey 30 outwards from the casing ID to an operative position. (See Figure 1.) In the construction illustrated, the movement of the keys 30 is restricted to a angle but it is also contemplated that by the enlargement of the cut-out portion 32 of thetubular sleeve 22 that the keys 30 could be swung about arc, or invertical alignment with the casing 10, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The openings 20 in the casing ends l6 are-slightly larger in diameter than the end 39 of the shaft 34 so that alignment of the sleeve key 24 and the shaft tooth 38 with the key-ways 2|, 2'! allows the sleeve '22 and the shaft 34 to be completely withdrawn from the casing for removal or insertion of the keys.

In order that the entire assemblymay be looked, a special locking key 40 is provided; This locking key 40 is preferably located substantially centrally of the keys 30 andis provided with a radially elongated key-way42 so as to permit the outstanding tooth 38- of the shaft 34' to be rotated to the upper limit of the cut out portion 32 in the tubular sleeve 22 without actuation of the key 43. This arrangement thus locks the tubular sleeve 22 and shaft'34 from any sliding axial movement and as the rotary movement of the shaft 34 is already at'a'termihal position as determined by the cut-out portion 32 in'the bearing sleeve 22, the keys 30 are locked securely within the casing Ill. Tounlock'the casing Ill the counter'rota'tion of the selector shaft 34 again brings the key actuating"tooth-33mm vertical alignment with the key-ways 2'! in the regular keys 39 so that the tubular-sleeve 22' and the selector shaft 34 can be moved axially in either direction to engage any selected one-of the keys 30.

In order that any one of the plurality of'ke'ys 33 may be easily and quickly located, indicating markings 53 are provided on each end of the" .tubular sleeve 22 which normally extends beyond the casing It. These markings 50 can be provided with indicating numerals orcharacters or indicating segments which could be-each of a different colour so as to identify a particular key. In the construction illustrated, the indicating markings are on the tubular sleeve 22 but it is also contemplated that similar indications could be marked on the selector shaft 34 where they" 1. A key holder comprising, an open faced cas mg, a tubular sleeve having an outwardly pro jecting locking key extending the length of said sleeve, said sleeve being mountedfor sliding axial movement acrossthe upper ends of said casing,

a plurality of keys mounted on said sleeve within saidcasing, each of said keys including a central opening at one end adapted to accommodate said tubular sleeve with a key-way extending from the v.lower portion -of said opening to accommodate-- said sleeve key, a key selecting shaft mounted for restricted rotary movement within said sleeve and being secured to said sleeve for sliding axial movement therewith, means on said shaft for engaging any selected one of said keys mounted in said casing, said tubular sleeve having a radially extending cut out portion adapted to allow for restricted rotary movement of said shaft key engaging means and a selected key relative to said tubular sleeve, whereby any of said keys mounted on said tubular sleeve may be selectively engaged by said shaft key engaging means and swung outwards from said casing through rotation of said shaft.

2. A key holder comprising, an open faced casing having at least a back wall and side Walls extending from said back Wall to form a substantially rectangular enclosure, said side walls including end portions extending above said back wall at each side, a tubular sleeve having an outwardly proecting locking key extending the length of said sleeve, said tubular sleeve being mounted for sliding axial movement between said casing side wall end portions, said casing ends each including a central opening including a keyway adapted to accommodate said tubular sleeve and locking key, a plurality of keys mounted on said sleeve within said casing, each of said keys having a central opening at one end adapted to accommodate said tubular sleeve including a key-way adapted to accommodate said tubular sleeve locking key, a key selecting shaft mounted for restricted rotary movement within said tubular sleeve and secured to said sleeve for sliding axial movement therewith relative to said casing ends, means on said shaft for engaging any selected one of said keys mounted in said casing, said tubular sleeve having a radially extending cut-out portion adapted to allow for restricted rotary movement of said shaft key engaging means and any selected one of said keys relative to said tubular sleeve, whereby any of said keys mounted on said tubular sleeve may be selectively engaged by said shaft key engaging means and swung outwards from said casing through rotation of said shaft.

3. A key holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the key engaging means provided on the key selecting shaft comprises an outwardly extending tooth of a size adapted to slidably fit in said tubular sleeve cut-out portion and the keyway of any selected key.

a. A key holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular sleeve and key selecting shaft are of a considerably greater length than the width of said casing so as to normally project beyond said casing at each side and suitable indicia are provided on said sleeve and/or shaft adapted to indicate the alignment of said shaft key engaging means with a selected key.

5. A key holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of said keys includes a radially elongated key-way adapted to provide a means for locking said tubular sleeve and key selecting shaft against sliding axial movement.

6. A key holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key-engaging means provided on the key selecting shaft comprises an outwardly extending tooth of a size adapted to slideably fit in said tubular sleeve cut out portion and the key-way of any selected key.

7. A key holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said keys includes a radially elongated key-way adapted to provide means for locking said tubular sleeve and key selecting shaft against sliding axial movement.

JOSEPH SHANNON NICHOLSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,573,723 Long Feb. 16, 1926 2,208,372 Kirkpatrick July 16, 1940 2,465,605 Povich Mar. 29, 1949 

